Christ and Common Sense

Thoughts from a Central Valley Pastor

Page 11 of 13

The Taste of Honey

May 21, 2021 /

Some years ago, I was part of a team that visited Russian pastors in the Ural Mountains, near Kazakhstan. We stopped for lunch at one pastor’s home near Ufa, Bashkotorstan. The meal was flavorful, the conversation was stimulating, and the dessert was delicious. I cannot remember what was served for the main course, but oh, the delightful dessert was unforgettable. This pastor was also a beekeeper. So, he served honeycomb and bread. The bowl of dripping honeycomb was passed around the table. We placed that sticky goodness on our plates alongside pieces of bread. This was a first time experience for me. I was unsure how to extract the honey from this waxy substance. However, I observed our host eating the honey and figured out the process. Our table manners went out the window. The proper way to eat it was with your fingers. The discarded honeycomb was piled on your plate, and bread was used to mop up the honey.

That memorable experience floods my mind every time I read biblical metaphors about eating or tasting food. “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore, I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:103–105, All Scripture quotations are from NASB95) The Psalmist compared meditating on the Bible to eating honey. Biblical contemplation enlightens our soul’s understanding of personal sin like honey benefits our physical body through its nourishment. 

King David described all aspects of God’s Word in this way, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7–11) David compared the Scriptures to honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 

Moreover, his son Solomon expanded upon this theme. “My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:13–14) “The word ‘honey’ can also refer to a thick syrup made from grapes and dates. In Arabic, the word used for this kind of fruit syrup is the same as the Hebrew word for honey from bees. As a symbol, honey stands for abundance (Ex. 3:8; 13:5; 33:3), the believer’s delight in God’s Word (Ps. 19:10; 119:103), and the rightness of God’s Word to His people (Ezek. 3:3).” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

Then the unnamed Psalmist described one result from spending time with the sweetness of God’s Word. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. . . Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9, 11) Internalizing God’s Word gives us guidance, wisdom, and keeps us from sinning. Our interaction with the Scriptures strengthens our relationship with our Creator.

Vance Havner, that popular Southern preacher from the twentieth century, once told the following story. “A little boy who had been begging his father for favors all day came once more into his daddy’s office. ‘What do you want this time?’ asked the weary parent. ‘I don’t want anything,’ was the astonishing reply. ‘I just want to be with you.’ If our Heavenly Father could be surprised He certainly would be, I am sure, if for once we prayed for no specific needs in particular but only sought His Presence and fellowship.” 

I am sure Dr. Havner believed in God’s omniscience. For our LORD knows all and is not shocked by anything. However, a human father might be astonished to hear his child desired to spend time with him. What a thrilling experience!

So, the Bible encourages believers to know the LORD better. “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8) God has asked us to discover how wonderful and desirable the LORD really is. Our Heavenly Father will bestow favor upon all who trust and take refuge in Him. The Scottish Reformer, John Knox (1513-72), has said, “Let no day slip over without some comfort received from the mouth of God.”

So, I challenge you to spend time with the LORD this week by meditating upon His Word like the drippings of the honeycomb. Make it your priority to spend quality time in His presence, and you will be blessed beyond measure. 

Pastor Bud Haskell serves at Grace Bible Church of Hanford. You can hear more teaching at www.gbchanford.org.

Who Of Us Is Not Worthy Of Protection?

April 22, 2021 /

Over the last eighteen months, we have experienced extreme actions to avoid the invisible and potentially deadly virus, COVID-19.  Masking and social distancing, economic lockdowns, and Operation Warp Speed were implemented to “flatten the curve” and potentially save lives.  Doctors and scientists worked tirelessly figuring out ways to prevent as many deaths as possible.  Special precautions were enacted to protect the most vulnerable: the elderly, minorities, and the economically disadvantaged.  

One lesson COVID-19 taught us is this:  While we know death is inevitable, we are willing to go to great lengths to protect life. Have you ever thought about the myriad of ways that life is defended and protected? 


Consider our five military branches that defend life from an enemy’s fatal threats and attacks both at home and abroad.  The Secret Service protects and defends the lives of both former and sitting Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and their families.  Law enforcement protects and defends the lives of its citizenry.  Security guards are present in federal, state, and local government agencies who serve to protect against any threat to life.  Prison guards protect the lives of employees and inmates of every prison/jail facility in the nation.


We install security systems; we put up walls and fences around homes, gated communities and schools for extra security and protection.  Many citizens acquire concealed carry weapon (CCW) permits to protect their lives and those of others.    
Why do we do this?  To protect and defend life from anything and anyone that threatens its destruction.   It’s interesting that all of these efforts are legal and no one questions the logic of implementing these life-preserving safeguards. 
Tragically, there is one class of people that falls outside the legal realm of security and protection:  The unborn. 


Human beings in the womb are the only class of people that are not afforded legal protection as “persons” under the 14th Amendment.  This is eerily similar to slavery when it was legal in this country.  Sadly, slaves were seen as “subhuman,” and therefore did not have any rights or legal protection.  The battle for their emancipation and legal status as persons was finally won in 1865.


We are in the same battle for the unborn.  


 The Science:  We have heard for months how we “need to follow the science” and to “listen to the experts” when it comes to COVID-19.  Yet, why don’t we apply this same logic to medical science of human development?  


Medical science has confirmed that life begins at conception when a man’s sperm enters a woman’s egg.   With advanced medical technology enabling us to peer into the womb with 3D and 4D ultrasounds, the evidence is irrefutable.  We can clearly see each stage of development of human life from within.  Dr. William Lile noted, “We treat the preborn as patients.  If they are a patient, they are a person.”   Isn’t it ironic that babies in the womb routinely undergo blood transfusions, heart and spina bifida surgeries as early as 18 weeks gestation, yet if a mother wishes to abort her baby for any reason, she has the legal right to do so?  But if that same pregnant mother decides to keep her baby and is murdered, her murderer would be tried for a double homicide.  Furthermore, there are legal cases which involve custody over fertilized embryos in divorce proceedings, as well as embryo adoption opportunities for couples who wish to give birth to their adopted child.   Courts have recognized these embryos are human beings worthy of custody litigation and adoption.   The laws pertaining to the unborn are inconsistent.  Is the preborn a human being or is it not?  If we “follow the science,” medical science has answered this question with a resounding YES!


Human life has always begun in the womb and always will.  Everyone reading this article began their physical existence in their mother’s womb.  We inherently know this, but since 1973, our society has ignored this truth and instead, tolerated the death of more than 60 million unborn at any stage of development for any reason under the philosophical guise of “my body, my choice” dogma, when, the baby being aborted is not a part of the woman’s body.  The baby is a distinct individual human being.  


Most importantly, ultrasound allows us to see the reality of what Scripture has told us for over 3,500 years.  Every human being is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), fearfully and wonderfully made, woven and knitted together by the hand of God in the womb of their mother. (Ps. 139:13-14)   As His image bearers, God has given children to us as a gift; the fruit of the womb is His reward. (Ps. 126:3)  God knew every one of us before He formed us in the womb. (Jer. 1:5)  
Every person has intrinsic value. Our value does not come from science nor does it come from man.  Our value comes from God Himself— He is the Giver of life, and the One who sanctifies life.


Because life is sacred, God commands us to “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’ Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?”  (Prov. 24:11-12)


At Crossroads Pregnancy Center, we affirm that all human life is sacred and created by God.  Human life is of inestimable worth including all unborn babies.  We provide women with free and confidential services which include pregnancy testing, options counsel, education, and tangible resources.  We are here to help her through her pregnancy and parenting journey through peer advocacy, parenting classes and support.  We offer post abortion counsel for women seeking emotional/spiritual healing from a past abortion.  


Life is sacred. Life is a gift.  Who is worthy of protection?  Every human being.  Just as we take countless measures to defend and secure our lives from all threats of harm, we must defend the weak, be a voice for the voiceless, and protect the most vulnerable and helpless among us:  the unborn baby.  

Kathryn Enloe serves as Executive Director of Crossroads Pregnancy Center in Hanford.  She can be reached at kathryne@crossroadscpc.com.  

Christians and Technology

April 22, 2021 /

I want to say right up, I am not against technology, but technology is either our greatest friend, or our worst enemy depending on how we use it. There is no greater example of its impact on our homes than what smart-phones are doing to our children. Digital addiction is caused when a teenager develops an unhealthy obsession with digital stimuli which begins to alter their body and brain chemistry and causes irritability, withdrawal, a mental dumbing down, and disinterest in socializing with real people or participating in real events. Our phone has become our idol, and we become very much like that which we worship.

Ask yourself honestly, are my kids obsessed with their smartphones? How much time daily are they on their phone on social media, YouTube, or gaming? Do you find they are easily distracted or struggle with not being able to think deeply? Is their memory sharp? How is their overall attitude? Can they read more than a few lines of text without getting bored or irritated? Think twice when you give your kids a smartphone or tablet, because once you give it, it is very difficult to take back.  The words of Gollum in Lord Of The Rings ring true… “My Precious…”!

Tony Reinke has written a great book,12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (Crossway Publishing, 2017), where he addresses the cultural obsession with smartphones and how it is changing us forever. From 2007 to 2017, one billion iPhones were sold. As of 2015, 86% of 18 to 29 year-olds own a smart-phone.  36% surveyed admitted to being online almost constantly.  People check their phones every 4.3 minutes.Even when there has been no beep alert on our phone, we still check it anyway out of habit. 73% of Christians admitted they check their phone before they even open their Bible. Our digital addiction keeps us from things we ought to be doing. 

The more distracted we are digitally, the more displaced we become spiritually. Technology makes us think we can indulge in anonymous vices without any consequences. Smartphones make sexual sin more discreet. What people used to have to go to a bookstore to look at, now can be seen in the privacy of our own space. Out of 8,000 professing Christians who were surveyed between the ages of 18-29, 50% of the men and 10% of the women admitted to porn use on their smartphones. What happens on our smart-phones, is the true exposure of our own hearts. “As a man thinketh, so is he.”

Although technology is not in the Bible, the principles in Scripture on how to address this issue in our present culture are very applicable.  Psalms 101:2-4 says, “I will behave wisely in a perfect way… I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.  I will set nothing wicked (worthless) before my eyes… I will not know wickedness.” Psalms 119:37 says, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things.” Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.”

The New Testament also includes passages that are helpful for making decisions about technology. Luke 11:34-36 says, “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light, but when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.  See to it then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

What is the cost to all this digital magic instantly at our fingertips? Should we be concerned about our children? Yes, but maybe we should be more concerned about ourselves. How are our smartphones changing us forever?  Are we and our children becoming home made zombies without knowing its true effect?  May God give us righteous discernment as we walk the tight-rope of this technological age. May we seek His wisdom on how to live rightly during these challenging times. Through repentance and faith, may we gain a new heart and clean conscience before God trusting in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

Dale Payne has been the Family Pastor of Visalia Evangelical Free Church for the last 19 years. He has been married 34 years to Linda and has six grown children, two grandchildren with two more on the way. His passion is Biblical counseling with families with a focus on developing healthy marriages and joyful parenting, and building up godly men to lead their homes well.

The Day That Changed Everything

April 2, 2021 /

When my wife and I moved to North Macedonia, there were many things that created culture shock for us. The language, customs, and people created experiences that were both challenging and enjoyable. One of the unusual things about living there was that many of the people went to their place of worship on Fridays instead of Sundays. Every Friday afternoon, we would hear the pre-recorded call to prayer being sent out from every mosque in the city. It felt strange to us because we were used to people preparing for worship on Sundays. It would be very difficult for us to get used to worshipping on a different day because Sundays are tied inextricably to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

I was thinking about this during the week because I was reminded that the Resurrection caused thousands of Jews to switch their holy day from Saturday to Sunday. Pastor Mark Dever wrote this, “These first-century Jews – thousands and thousands of them – suddenly changed their normal day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. Sociologists tell us that the most ancient parts of a culture are found in its religious rites. They are the most conservative elements of a culture, the least likely and slowest to change. What then can account for this sudden change around the Mediterranean, among thousands of first-century Jews, from worshiping on Saturday to worshiping on Sunday?”

What a great question. What could possibly convince so many people of one religious background to switch their holy day from Saturday to Sunday? The answer is found in the gospel! They believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, who had died for their sins on Friday of Passover week and then risen from the dead and conquered death on Sunday! Before that took place these disciples would have considered the week to run from Sabbath to Sabbath, but after Jesus rose from the dead it changed from Sunday to Sunday. 

The New Testament doesn’t record exactly when this change was finally made, but the authors of the gospel of John and the book of Acts make it clear that the first day of the week became the prominent time for believers. John 20 records the following, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday and he appeared to the disciples later that night as well. 

Acts 20:7 describes how the believers as far away as Troas, in modern day Turkey, gathered on the first day of the week to break bread together. The first day of the week was Sunday. This shows that it had become an accepted tradition for Christians to gather on Sundays. From that point on Christian history records believers faithfully gathering together on the first day of the week to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

As we gather for worship this Sunday I hope we will take the time to consider how much changed as a result of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. Transitioning from Saturday to Sunday was a dramatic change for the early believers, but it paled in comparison to the change that God had worked in their hearts and lives. The Resurrection proved that Jesus was the Messiah. It proved that he fulfilled prophecy. It proved that he was able to pay for our sin! It proved that he was able to take God’s wrath upon himself on our behalf. It proved that the Kingdom of Heaven had been established in the hearts and minds of his followers on the earth. It was a day that changed human history forever and it was a day that makes it possible for God to still be changing lives today! May we gather for worship tomorrow in awe and wonder at the work Christ accomplished on the cross and in the empty tomb! He is Alive! 

What Makes a Great Parent?

March 12, 2021 /

I once read a bumper sticker that gave me pause, it read, “We send our dogs to training school while our kids run wild.” Think about that for a minute… How can we make sure to train our kids well? I want to show you what the Bible teaches about parenting by mentioning five gifts that every child needs to receive from their parents. They need a Godly example, the gospel, instruction, attention/affection, and discipline.

Every child needs an example to follow. 

To say it straight, hypocrites make the worst parents. Hypocrites raise angry kids. Instruction without example leads to frustration. One cannot lead another in the right way if one is not going that way himself. This is one of the ways a parent can produce unnecessary anger in a child. The apostle gave this prohibition to fathers, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). It has been well said that instruction is the setting of the nail upon the wood, example is the hammer that drives it home! Having a Godly example is a wonderful gift that every parent should strive to model for their children. 

Every child needs to know the gospel. 

What is the gospel? The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ made a perfect payment for our sins! (John 3:16) He made it possible for every person to repent of their sins and commit their life to Christ. If you have children you know that they do not have to learn how to disobey. They are inclined to being selfish and proud, just like the rest of humanity. The sooner a child can be told about the holiness of God the sooner they will realize how sinful they are. This is a very healthy realization because it will help them appreciate the gospel. They will realize there is no other way that they can be saved from their sin. It is only through the saving work of Jesus Christ dying on the cross for their sin. (Acts 4:12)

Every child needs instruction on what is right: 

Kids need to be taught to make sure they are getting Bible knowledge into their little hearts every single day. Parents are supposed to tell their kids about God “when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). 

Every family will do this differently, but the main point is to get your family into God’s word. In our home we read the Bible around the dinner table. We are currently memorizing Matthew 5 as a family before dinner. We also let our kids listen to the Bible on CD before bed and again when they wake up. You cannot give them too much Bible. Their brains and hearts are sponges and they take it all in with joy and not complaint.

Every child needs to be loved and cared for well (Attention/Affection). 

Kids know when they are being overlooked by your other interests. Kids need you tucking them in with prayer at night. Kids thrive on singular attention from you like having a game night during the week or engaging them in personal conversation in the car. Lately our kids are enjoying charades and Uno, coloring together and reading mysteries. Playing lava ball outside on the neighbor’s trampoline is alway a blast. Take dates with the girls and go on adventures with the boys—which for us can be as simple as driving home from church on the route my kids want, reading a Hardy Boys mystery together, or going out to McDonald’s for yummy French fries. Turn off the smart phone and give yourself to your kids.

Every child needs to be disciplined in love: Do you know where you find the unhappiest children? In child-centered homes. These are the homes where activity has replaced responsibility and parents have neglected to be parents. Children need God-centered homes. Using the book of Proverbs Peter Wegner outlines 6 levels of discipline.

Level 1. Encourage proper behavior: A wise parent encourages a child to behave properly (Prov. 1:8-9; 2:2-5; 3:13-15; 4:7-8). 

Level 2. Inform of improper behavior: A wise parent is proactive and addresses certain issues before the child might be confronted by them (Prov. 1:10-15; 3:31-32). 

Level 3. Explain the negative consequences of sin: A wise parent points out the negative consequences that lie along the path of life (Prov. 1:18-19; 5:3-6). 

Level 4. Gently exhort: Wise parents will, on an ongoing basis, advise and exhort their children against sin that can easily become a pattern and encourage them to use wisdom (Prov. 4:1-2, 14-16). 

Level 5. Gently rebuke or reprove: The wise parent knows when to use rebuke properly (Prov. 3:12; 24:24-25). 

Level 6. Punishment that does not cause physical harm: A wise parent knows when and how to use punishment (Prov. 19:18; 13:24; 23:13-14; 29:15).

Conclusion 

Children are a gift from the Lord, the heritage of God (Ps 127). The gift of children therefore is the responsible stewardship of parents or guardians to be carried out before the Lord (Eph. 6:1-4). These precious gifts are not to be held at arm’s length. They are to be nourished and cherished. We need to give them our heart and our life. We must bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 

Will Costello is the Senior Pastor at Visalia EV Free Church. You can contact him at willc@visaliaevfree.org. 

How God Saves Criminals Today

March 5, 2021 /

Prison is a gloomy, hopeless place for many. Prisoners often live their lives without friends, without family, staring at the prison bars and feeling guilt and anger burning in their hearts. Spouses, parents and relatives of the incarcerated often “do time” right along with their loved ones, feeling alone and guilty. Christians have a glorious gospel message “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1). It is the message of the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

When Jesus Christ was being crucified, two criminals were also condemned next to him, one on either side. They were receiving what they justly deserved. Yet God in his free and sovereign grace rescued one of them. In the salvation of that criminal, I want to note four truths that stand out.

First scripture tells us of this criminal’s character. “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (Luke 23:39) “Malefactors” is an evil doer, a worker of evil. He was a criminal, one who committed gross misdeeds and serious crimes. He is called a “thief” in Mark and in Matthew’s gospel. “Thieves” translates lēstēs in the original Greek language, which denotes a brigand who plunders as he steals. This man was not a petty thief or even a common robber, but a cruel bandit who took pleasure in tormenting and abusing his victims.

Second scripture tells us of this criminal’s condition. Luke 23:40-41 records that he was suffering a just punishment for his crime. God instituted the death penalty in Genesis 9:6. “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Romans 13 affirms that it is still binding today). Not only was he suffering the death penalty justly but he was totally helpless. He could do nothing to help himself physically or spiritually. Scripture reminds us that every person is lost without Christ. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). What a terrible condition this criminal was in. The same is true spiritually speaking for all people who have not repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ. 

Third scripture tells us of this criminal’s companion. “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” (Luke 23:39) The question was asked in a manner that was mocking, sarcastic, and taunting. He had no fear of God or of future judgment. He died just as he lived, an unrepentant rebel.

Forth scripture tells us of this criminal’s conversion. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43) This criminal could do absolutely nothing to save himself or change his own wicked heart. His feet were nailed so he could not run and go to church or a synagogue. His hands were nailed so he could not go and do some good works to earn salvation. Yet God sovereignly saved him! 

What happened to him? God the Father drew him to Jesus Christ! As Jesus had said earlier,  “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37) The thief went from being a Curser to a Convert! From a Blasphemer to a Believer! From a Criminal to a Christian! This conversion took place without raising his hand, without walking an aisle, without any sacrament or without any good works! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) What amazing grace.

Jesus said to the repentant thief “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:42–43)  Our Lord assured him that today—that very day, after they breathed their last—the criminal would be with him in paradise. The criminal may have lived an evil, vile, lawbreaking life that had resulted in execution, but as he faced death, by God’s grace, he turned to and believed in Jesus Christ. This is authoritative proof that Jesus Christ has come for the purpose to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

What Jesus did in saving that criminal He is still doing today. In prisons throughout our country and even around the world, the gospel is being faithfully proclaimed. As the good news is preached, God is faithful to save criminals, bringing them to “repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21) 

As a pastor of over 18 years and serving in prison ministry over 20 years, I can testify to the reality that God can and does save the worst of sinners. God does what no man can do; He saves and sanctifies lost men and women. He brings not only outward reformation but also true inward transformation. He turns unproductive criminals into productive law-abiding citizens; He transforms selfish fathers into loving self-less fathers who love and lead their families.

I hope this is a small encouragement to know that biblical faithful ministry is happening behind bars and God is transforming lives. All to the glory of His great name! Let us support biblical prison ministry and make an impact for eternity. Soli Deo Gloria.

When Obeying God Requires Disobeying Government

March 5, 2021 /

Several weeks ago a pastor named James Coates was arrested for holding services inside GraceLife Church, located in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. Imagine my surprise when I recognized the photo of pastor James! He was a fellow student from when I was enrolled at the Master’s seminary. I was deeply moved as I read the article. What a joy to know that this brother in Christ is faithfully preaching the word of God “as a dying man, to dying men.” 

If you listen to his last sermon you can tell he understood the weight of the situation. The sermon was titled “Directing Government to its Duty” and was taken from Romans 13:1-4. In it he argues that civil disobedience is necessary for Christians in three areas. 1) When the government forbids what God commands. 2) When the government commands what God forbids and 3) When the Government commands what isn’t theirs to command (i.e. giving orders outside of their jurisdiction). 

In the case of GraceLife Church, civil disobedience is justified because both the first and third infractions are being done by the government. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has publicly declared that churches are not allowed to legally gather indoors at more than 15% building capacity. GraceLife Church has been disobeying that rule for an extended amount of time. On January 29, AHS stepped up their enforcement by sending an executive officer order, which states that the church must immediately close to public access and remain closed until the premises are in compliance with the orders issued on December 17, 2020 and January 21, 2021. 

It is clear that the Alberta government is forbidding what God commands. The government is saying it is wrong for people to attend church indoors at more than 15% of capacity. Those attending the church disagree with the government’s definition of right and wrong. The Christians believe it is actually good behavior for them to gather because they believe God’s word says it is good (Hebrews 10:25). The members of GraceLife believe they are compelled by their consciences to obey God’s command to gather together, even if that means running the risk of interacting with a virus or being arrested by the government, or both! 

The government is also overstepping their jurisdiction. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that everyone in Canada has the fundamental freedom of peaceful assembly. If the government tries to halt its citizens from peaceful assembly then it is clearly overstepping one of the rights it was established to defend. This is why even though pastor James has been arrested the rest of the church has been able to continue worshipping in the building. The AHS recognizes how difficult it will be for them to win a case in a Canadian court because the law stands in opposition to anyone trying to stop peaceful assembly. 

As Christians we need to be aware of these issues and we need to be concerned about them. We need to pray for Pastor James and his family as he continues to serve the Lord in jail. We need to pray for those in the congregation who are continuing to meet indoors without their pastor. He was offered bail, but he did not accept because the terms of bail stated that he could not teach at GraceLife Church. His conscience did not allow him to leave under those conditions so he is still in jail and will remain there until the judge allows his release. 

A trial date has been set for May 3, but his lawyer, James Kitchen, said his firm plans to appeal the bail conditions so their client can leave jail before then. It is also interesting to note that the AHS may lift restrictions as early as March 1, so the government may decide to make what is currently illegal legal again. We will wait and pray and be encouraged knowing that God promises to honor those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30). 

Growing Through Trials

February 12, 2021 /

The following article is excerpted from Dr. Swartz’s book: Strength in the River: A Biographical Theology of Suffering (Kress Biblical Publications)

It was time. Well aware of His coming arrest and crucifixion, Jesus walked willingly to His ultimate mission. Just before His arrest, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with some of his disciples. He told them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watchwith me.”He went on and fell on his face and prayed: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt 26:38-39).

He knew that in just hours He would be nailed to a cross to die a slow, cruel death to pay for the sins of humanity. He knew that He would bear the full weight of God’s righteous fury against sin.

Jesus, Son of God, fully God and fully man, was now in the midst of a raging river of emotional anguish in growing anticipation of the unimaginable suffering that was before Him. What did He do in His time of deep suffering? He prayed this beautifully submissive prayer. 

The Bible helps us understand the vastness of God’s sovereignty, that God’s plan includes whatever is happening right now. God’s plan can include some trial or pain that you do not want to face or something that you will inevitably face. But God’s sovereignty is endless, as proven in Isaiah 45:7, “I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” 

This is precisely the situation of Jesus: He is faced with the culmination of the Father’s plan for Him on earth—death by crucifixion—and He prays this simple prayer. Jesus was filled with sorrow and dread, yet He never sinned or stopped trusting God. The sinless Son of God is truly our best example of having strength in the river of suffering and our best example of being submissive to whatever God brings. How can we follow in His footsteps and peacefully accept the plan of God? We need to accept God’s plan with resolution, humility, and reverence. 

First, accepting God’s plan is done with resolution. It is a decision, a choice, a moment in time when you take a vote within yourself to please the Lord and say, “Yes, Lord, I accept whatever You bring.” Jesus resolved to accept God’s plan. In prayer, it was now time to plead with the Lord that if there was any other way to accomplish the task of redemption, now would be a great time for His Father to jump in, because His arrest was only minutes away! But time was up. The Father was silent. Jesus laid down His will in surrender and submission, making an official resolution: “Not as I will, but as you will.” 

Second , we need to accept God’s plan with humility. Jesus said, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” In the Old Testament, the “cup” often alluded to suffering and the wrath of God. Psalm 11:6, for example, says “Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup” (Ps 11:6). In order to die, Jesus would have to endure suffering—not just physical suffering but also spiritual suffering as payment for our sin. About to face this unimaginable pain, Jesus was experiencing a very natural desire to shrink back from His task, so He asked His Father if perhaps there was another way that this pain could be avoided.  His prayer is offered with great respect and deference, making no demands of God. Jesus prays, “If it be possible.” He doesn’t claim deliverance from God, but instead makes a request in modest humility. There is tremendous joy and peace in humbling yourself before the Lord, glorifying Him and placing yourself in His hands.

Third, we need to accept God’s plan with reverence. The final petition of Jesus’ prayer is that the Father would accomplish His own will. This is the pattern of Jesus’ entire life, “I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me” (John 8:28). Jesus willingly subjugated Himself to the will of His Father. 

This is a whole new level of reverence to the Lord! We might pray, “Lord, not what I will but what You will,” but how often is this really just code language for, “Oh, please do it my way, but if You must do it Your way then I guess I’ll deal with it,” as if God’s will, though painful, is not the best option? His plan needs to be carried out, even if this plan includes you standing in a raging river of suffering. Reverence says, “God, I not only accept Your will, but I pray deeply and earnestly that Your will is carried out. Your will is always best, and if this river is Your will, then please give me the grace to rejoice in it.”

All four gospels are surprisingly brief and to the point about the crucifixion of Christ. All four simply say, “They crucified him.” Jesus endured the wrath of God on the cross, and when the debt had been paid, He declared, “It is finished.” When all that was left to do was to actually die (unlike the typical death of a crucified victim, in which breathing becomes impossible) Luke’s gospel tells us, “Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’” Matthew says, “Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” Mark says, “Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.” Jesus took a deep breath, cried out in victory, and died on purpose.

How was He able to do this? He submitted willingly to the plan of God. When you, too, are standing in the torrent of the river of suffering, submit and receive the power to endure, and the same strength given to Christ will be yours as well.

Dr. Steve Swartz is the Senior Pastor at Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield. You can write him at steves@gbcob.org.

The Antidote for Racism

February 12, 2021 /

Racism has no place in the Church or in society. The Bible tells us God hates it and so should we. If more people understood this I believe our society would be able to find a way to recover from our troubled past. The solution can only be found in the Good News of Jesus Christ because it humbles everyone equally. If the Church does not clearly communicate the solution to racism then society will create its own solutions, which will be defined by humans, instead of being defined by God. 

The modern definition of racism addresses the issue differently than the Bible. The Oxford dictionary explains it as, “The belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.” Instead of viewing a person in relation to how God values them, a racist person views others according to his or her own value system. The Bible defines this as the sin of pride. Racism can arise out of pride because someone views themselves as superior to another group. Most would agree that this is wrong. Yet there is another aspect of racism that the Bible would also define as sin. Racism can also lead to a sinful response because people who experience racism against themselves are often unable to stop being vengefully angry at the other group. The Bible defines both pride and anger as sins that need to be dealt with. 

God’s word does not mention racism, but it clearly leaves no room for any professing Christian to foster hatred towards another human being, whether from pride or anger. Jesus Christ cut to the heart of the issue in the Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard it said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22 ESV) 

God’s solution for dealing with racism is the same as it is for every sin. Each person must confess their sin and see it the same way God does. They must repent of it and call out to God to forgive them. They must trust that the only way for their sin to be forgiven is by Jesus Christ dying on the cross and rising from the dead. They must commit to living a life of love by the power of the Holy Spirit for the glory of God the Father!

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with racism in any society is that it arises from the human tendency to judge others by how they look. One of the reasons Adam and Eve were tempted to eat the forbidden fruit was because they judged it to be “pleasing to the eyes.” Racism does the opposite. It judges someone as “not pleasing to the eyes.” This is often done for something as superficial as the color of their skin. 

In order for Christians to deal with racism we have to train ourselves to see others the way God does. God sees past someone’s physical form to the heart of the person. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” We have to constantly remind ourselves that human life has value because every person is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Each person has a body, mind, and soul, which makes it possible for them to reflect God’s sense of morality, justice, creativity, and beauty. This is true even though we live in a fallen world (Genesis 9:6). All human life has value regardless of how someone chooses to live. 

The Bible gives a wonderful solution for overcoming the poison of racism. It is agape love. Agape love is the supernatural love of God that was shown to humanity in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This kind of love is the antidote for racism because it replaces pride and anger with selfless, unconditional love. A Christian can not see himself as superior to others when he is humbled by the gospel. A Christian can not remain angry at others when he realizes that his anger is one reason why Christ died on the cross. A Christian can not be racist if he has 1 Corinthians 13 coursing through his veins, ““Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 

The truth about racism is that God’s love and God’s love alone is powerful enough to overcome it. God’s love and God’s love alone can bring healing to those who have suffered from it. And it is God’s love and God’s love alone that can bring the proud person to a place of humility and repentance.

The Bible, Science, and Dinosaur Bones

January 31, 2021 /

Our Sunday morning Equipping Class just finished watching a fascinating documentary called Is Genesis History? I believe it is the best documentary on the subject because of its high production quality and its unique content. Everyone who watched it was encouraged to see scientific evidence that supports the Bible’s account of a literal six-day creation and a global flood. It made me think, “If this got out it could have a dramatic impact on how Christians think about the age of the earth.” 

Many of us were surprised at the evidence in the documentary. We weren’t surprised because we thought it was difficult to believe. We were surprised because it is so rare to see professional scientists support the idea that the world is thousands of years old instead of millions or billions of years old. 

I did a little bit of research on why we don’t see more young earth evidence from the scientific community. I came across the story of Mary Schweitzer. In 2005, she discovered living tissue inside of dinosaur bones that were supposed to be at least 150 million years old. She told Live Science magazine, ”The problem is, for 300 years, we thought, ‘Well, the organics are all gone, so why should we look for something that’s not going to be there?’ and nobody looks.” https://www.livescience.com/41537-t-rex-soft-tissue.html One reason professional paleontologists may not have been reporting on evidence for a young earth is because their presuppositions limited their research. After Mary Schweitzer discovered living tissue in dinosaur bones people began looking at them differently. 

I also came across the story of a biologist who was recently fired because he allegedly shared research with his students. Mark Armitage claims he was fired from California State University Northridge because he shared information about dinosaur tissue samples with his students. In 2016 he was awarded $399,500 in a settlement with the university after suing them for wrongful termination. “Terminating an employee because of their religious views is completely inappropriate and illegal,” said Attorney Brad Dacus of Pacific Justice Institute. “But doing so in an attempt to silence scientific speech at a public university is even more alarming. This should be a wakeup call and warning to the entire world of academia.” https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/scientist-dismissed-after-soft-tissue-found-dinosaur-fossil-001906 Even after winning the settlement Armitage reported the discrimination didn’t stop. He discovered additional tissue in fossils on two digs, but was not able to find a journal to publish his findings. He said, “I’m clearly being blackballed.” https://world.wng.org/content/after_settlement_academia_still_opposes_creationist/

Unfortunately, it is also becoming rare for Christians to hear biblical teaching that supports a six-day creation perspective in churches and Christian schools. We need to see this trend change. We need Christians to realize this is not just an issue of what theory someone holds for Genesis 1. We need to realize all of Scripture supports a young earth view.  

We usually think of only the Old Testament referring to creation, but Jesus Christ taught about creation as well. In Mark 10:6 he said, “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.”  He was referring to the human race being present on the fifth day of creation. There was no room for millions of years to slip into the timeline. He did not need scientific discoveries to explain the age of the earth because he had a clear understanding of Holy Scripture.

He also wrote about believing in the Old Testament. He said,  “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” Moses wrote about the creation account outside of Genesis as well. He said, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” I believe the most natural way to understand “day” in Exodus 20 and Genesis 1 and 2 is as a 24-hour day.  This fits the genre of historical narrative in the most natural way.

Let me end with this dramatic quote from pastor G. I. Williamson. He said, “I do not believe that there is, or ever will be, any scientific discovery that will be able to discredit what God has spoken. Yes, scientific theories do appear to discredit that creation account. But be patient. In time it will be seen that those humble Bible believers were right all along: it was a six-day creation.”

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